"Think of your pet dog having a thousand needles stuck into him over his entire body. Think of his pain. Now, while in this state, do your monologue for me." I don’t ever want to think of those images, especially before shooting a scene.

Why do stage actors like to work with blood? Seán G. Griffin, who played Donny in the satirical bloodbath "The Lieutenant of Inishmore," by Irish playwright Martin McDonagh, says blood helps drive a scene.

When the intimate drama "Next Fall" moved from a 99-seat Off-Broadway house to the 597-seat Helen Hayes Theatre, cast member Patrick Heusinger remembered two pieces of advice to help him with the transition.